Day 39- LEVEL UP: iPhone

I’m a lover of the iPhone. I’ve owned a few but have always bought them second hand and I am always a couple of generations away from the most recent. I’m a general user so have never felt the need for the latest and greatest features. I’m also keen on not creating demand by buying a new one.

My iPhone 6 has been showing signs of age for a while, and for the first time I really found myself in a quandary about what choice I wanted to make next. Part of me wants to continue buying second hand phones for the ethical reasons I’ve just given, but the downside of that is I have to have £250-£300 saved up and I’m only ever guaranteed the phone working for 2 years before I find myself in the same position again.

Now that I use my phone a lot more for work, I’ve considered a newer version but they are expensive. However, the Apple Upgrade Programme offers me the opportunity to get a new phone with Apple Care and I can spread the payments over 20 months. It’s not dissimilar to what I want to do with the car too.

I am very conflicted with the ethical and environmental impact of consuming a new product every few years but I’m going to justify it because of all the other aspects of my life I’m trying to improve. The car and phone might be the last ethical decision I ever make.

From now, I will just trust in the upgrade programme, budget for the monthly cost and decide whether to upgrade, as and when.

I chose the (Product) Red iPhone to ease my conscience just a little. It contributes to U2’s Red charity for beating AIDS.